page 8

General Manager's Message
building business for the railways.
every employee should help.

The present economic position of the Dominion makes it more important than ever for all employees of the New Zealand Railways to take advantage of every available opportunity to assist in building business for this great enterprise.

In making this statement I am not suggesting that there has been any lack of that spirit of loyalty which has always characterised the staff as a whole. Rather my wish is to remind members that in strongly advocating the cheapness and safety of railway transport they are necessarily acting for the welfare of themselves and the whole Dominion.

More business for the railways means more security for positions in various branches of the service. Efforts of the staff to increase this business may be regarded as an insurance policy against decrease of employment.

The Department has, of course, business agents whose special duty it is to sell railway transport (passenger and freight), but the number of these agents is limited. Stationmasters and their staffs, too, are exceptionally well situated to assist in this service. No matter how strenuously these may work, however, there will be still immeasurable scope for other members of the service to say a good word for the railways on suitable occasions during their leisure hours.

When one thinks of a staff of 15,000 men, distributed through the whole community, one cannot help feeling that a strong persistent drive for the railways must have good results. Therefore I appeal confidently to all members to be always in readiness to state the railways case convincingly. We supply the safest and cheapest transport, and it deserves the best support of the owners, the general public.

Linked with this need of more revenue for the railways is the saving which can be made in the careful use of stores and equipment. I am pleased that the recent reminder on this important matter has been appreciably effective, and I anticipate that the staff will continue to be on guard against all kinds of waste. Here, again, it is a case of strengthening the financial position of the railways so that the outlook may be improved for employees. It is really a case of self-help.

Finally let us all have in mind all the time that we are concerned with a necessary national service, and that our earnest and sustained co-operation for increase of business and elimination of waste must strengthen the foundations of employment throughout the Department and must be beneficial to the general public.

General Manager.